Mute.



Ka FUJITA.

MUTE. APPLIUATION PIL ED MAY6`,1909.

Patented Sept. 7, 1909.

'llldhllllillll KANJYE FI'T, Q.. AKN :"LJBCPJ, "Cl-ftll lli" TE.

933,2iel. specification of Letters etent Prt-.Hating HQE; 55 il gli n Application filed May 6, 1969. Serial No. @i333 fio all whom ymay concern. l sgings frein above. WO T is a vertical sec- Be it known that l, lian-iris FUJ rra, a citizen of Japan, residing at the cityv ot inn Arbor, count)7 ot 'itlauhtenam .Tritate of l-iichilinproveinents in lt/ilutes, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to nnprovcineits in niutes for stringed inusical instruments, such arrows at the ends of the section lines.

as inandolins, guitars, violins and the like.

rlhe inain objects of this invention are: l rst, to provide an iinproved inute for? stringed inusical instruments, such as inandolins, guitars, violins and the like. lSecond, to provide an improved inute for stringed inusical instruments with which ver); satisfactory results in the inatter of tone graduation or shading nia;v be easily attained. rlChird, to provide an iinpi'oved nuite for stringed inusical instruinents which is very easily operated. Fourth, to provide an improved inute for stringed niusical instruments, which is adapted to be left on the instrumentand does not detract frein the appearance of the instrument or render it cunibersoine, and does not interfere with its use without the inute being brought into operation.

Further objects, and objects relating to structural details will definitely appear frein the detailed description to follow.

l accoinplish the objects of in;7 invention by the devices and ineans described in the following specification.

rllie invention is clearly dened andpointed out in the claims.

fr structure embodying the features of inv invention is clearly illustrated in the accoinpanying drawing, forming a part of this specilication, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a structure embodying the features of iny invention, the structure illustrated being a inandolin. Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the bridge with the inute inounted thereon reinoved frein the instrument. Fig. f5 is an enlarged vertical section through the bridge and inute, taken on a line corresponding to line 3-3 of Fig. 2. il is an enlarged elevation of the actuating ineinber for the inute and its supporting bracket. Fig. is a detail, partiallT in vertical section, taken on a line corresponding to line 5-5 of Fig. 4f. FiO'. 6 is a detail plan of a modification in which the inute is arranged to engage the acte-rs refer to -several views,

tion through the structure appearing in Fie".

, G, taken on a line co lesponding to line. 'T-T thereof. gan, have invented certain new and useful ln the drawing, siinilar reference charsii'nilar parts throughout the and the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the little Referring to the drawing, .ne body l of ihe instrunient illustrated is of the coininon design of nandolin body, provided with the s linger board 2, of strings 3, and the 'e de. VEhe inute 5 is preferably pivotallj: rted on the front side of the bridge oelow tne "trings, the bridge being proe ineinbers t1 to receive the inute. ln the inodilication inute is arranged above pivots the string Aie bridge being of the low type which t readilj,v perinit of the arrangenient of the rute below the strings.

The rente is prefei-efolj,v provided with a facing 8 of leather, t or other suitable inaterial, for engaging tie strings.

V"ilhe inute actuated l )y throwing it up against the under si es of the strings when arranged below the strings or down upon thf ien ar anged above the strings. This l j; accomplish by ineans of the actin ore i), which is arranged through a h( 0 ocated centrallv of the bridge and c'l t l the `movable actuating ineinber il, ch positioned on the body l to be l rlliis inova actuating ineinber preferabl)v in tneorni of a button arranged to reciprocate tlie bracket which is inounted on ne body-see Fig. l. The inein- .oer ll i lield yieldingly upward by ineans of the spring 13. '3v pressing downward on this actuating 1neinber, t-he inute is thrown into its engag-irg` position. lllhen the actuating ineinber is released, the coiled spring ll, arranged between the bridge and the inute, retY urns the inute to its inoperative position. rFhis soi-ing is in the structure illustrated, supported by the cord 9.

Bv thus arranging the parts, the inute can be easilj.T controlled and as niucli or as little pressure applied thereto as is required to secure the desired results, so that a very effective graduation of tone niaT be secured. This arrai'igeinent also supports the inute so that it does not detract 'troni the appearance of ov the arin of the operator.

lOO

the instrument or interfere with its use when it is not desired to operate the mute. The engaging of the strings by the mute from the under side and the front of the bridge is also a very desirable feature, although the arrangement as shown in Fig. 6 is quite satisfactory. In this modification the hinge brackets 15 project upwardly above the strings as illustrated. The spring 16 is here arranged as a pull spring.

I have illustrated and described my improvements in detail in a form which I have found to be a satisfactory embodiment. I am aware that the structural details and arrangement of parts can be very greatly varied Without departing from my invention, however, as the structure illustrated* and described discloses my invention broadly. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe the various modilications thereof herein.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. In a structure ot' the class described, the combination with the body, of strings; a bridge; a mute adjustably mounted on the y front side of said bridge below the strings; and means for actuating said mute comprising an actuating cord arranged through said bridge and connected to said mute, a movable member to which said cord is connected,

a supporting bracket for said movable member, mounted on said body, areturn spring for said movable member; and a spring for l normally holding said mute in inoperative position.

2. In a structure of the class described, the combination with the body, of strings; a bridge; a mute adjustably mounted on the front side of said bridge below the strings; and means for actuating said mute comprising an actuating cord arranged through said bridge and connected to said mute, and a spring for normally holding said mute in inoperative position.

3. In a structure of the class described, the combination with the body, of strings; a bridge; a mute adjustably mounted on said bridge below the strings; and means for ac- .A

tuating said mute, for the purpose specified.

4. In a struct-ure of the class described, the combination with the body, of strings; a bridge; a mute pivotally mounted on said bridge to engage the said strings; and means for actuating said mute.

5. In a structure of the class described, the combination with the body, of strings; a bridge; ar mute adjustably mounted on said bridge to engage the said strings; and means for actuating said mute.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two witnesses. 

